Station wagon models are quite popular in the European market, especially in the compact segment. Up until now, Honda has been absent from this category leaving several other automakers, both local, such as VW with the Golf Estate, and Asian, including Toyota with the new Auris Touring Sports and Hyundai with the i30 Touring, to lure customers into their dealerships.
Honda has plans to change this with the new Civic Wagon, which it previewed with a very close to production concept at the Geneva Salon back in March. Now, our spies have caught up with a camouflaged test car of the final production model that will launch next year joining the European market Civic five-door hatchback.
What changes on the production model over the concept, are all those bells and whistles that make studies stand out under the spotlight, sans the hidden rear door handles that remain. In this case, these include the smaller wheels (at least on base grades), less extravagant lights on both ends of the car, larger mirrors and a conventional tailpipe design (instead of the neat looking, mid-mounted twin pipes).
Honda didn’t show the concept’s interior, but it’s a given that the dashboard along with many other parts of the cabin will be shared with the hatchback. Naturally, the extended rear overhang and roofline will help significantly increase boot space over the five-door hatch, while the low opening of the tailgate will improve practicality.
All engines are also to be shared with the other Civic models, so expect the lineup to include Honda’s new 1.6-liter diesel with 118 hp (120 PS) and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of peak torque, as well as the 1.8-liter petrol and the larger 2.2-liter turbo diesel.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS
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